JP4774264B2 - Connector receiving structure of light source processor device for endoscope - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention provides an integrated structure in which a signal connector connected to an electronic device in an endoscope and an optical connector for allowing illumination light to enter a light guide passed through the endoscope are arranged in parallel. The present invention relates to a connector receiving structure of an endoscope light source processor device connected to the endoscope connector.

  As this type of connector receiving structure, a configuration as shown in FIG. 6 is conventionally known. An endoscope connector 1 connected to an endoscope (not shown) has a signal connector 1a and an optical connector 1b arranged in parallel to form an integrated structure. The signal connector 1a includes a plurality of electrical contacts (not shown), each connected to the signal connector receiver 2a of the connector receiver 2, and connected to an electronic circuit in the control device. The cylindrical optical connector 1b is inserted into the support tube 2b of the connector receiver 2 and supported at a position where the illumination light from the light source 3 provided in the control device is converged at the tip.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the support cylinder 2b supports the vicinity of the root of the optical connector 1b, and the tip of the optical connector 1b is not supported. Such a connector receiving structure of the endoscope control apparatus is disclosed in FIG. In order to facilitate the connection and removal of the endoscope connector, it is necessary to ensure a predetermined clearance from the connector receiver, and some shakiness occurs after the connection.

Japanese Patent No. 3295001 (FIG. 1)

  However, in the conventional connector receiving structure as described above, the optical connector 1b moves with the contact S1 between the tip of the support tube 2b and the optical connector 1b as a fulcrum due to the rattling of the endoscope connector 1, so that the optical connector 1b The distal end of the connector 1b is relatively displaced with respect to the convergence position of the illumination light from the light source 3, thereby changing the amount of light taken in by the optical connector 1b and illuminating the body cavity from the distal end of the endoscope. There is a problem in that the amount of light varies and obstructs observation.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and can easily suppress the change in the amount of illumination light while facilitating the connection between the endoscope connector and the endoscope light source processor device. It is an object to provide a connector receiving structure for an endoscope control apparatus.

In order to solve the above problems, a connector receiving structure of an endoscope light source processor device according to the present invention includes a signal connector connected to an electronic device in an endoscope, and a light led through the endoscope. In an endoscope light source processor device connector receiving structure connected to an endoscope connector having an integrated structure in which an optical connector for making illumination light incident on a guide is arranged in parallel, the optical connector is inserted. A light source provided in the endoscope light source processor device, the support tube having a length capable of supporting the tip of the optical connector when the optical connector is inserted. the incorporation position of the illumination light emitted from the part to the distal end inside of the support tube with positioning the tip of the optical connector, biasing means for biasing the tip of the optical connector on one side is provided, The biasing means includes a continuous portion formed along the circumference of the optical connector and a tongue piece portion divided into a plurality of portions by an axial notch, and the continuous portion has a large diameter of the support cylinder. The tip of the optical connector is urged to one side by the tongue piece and pressed against the small diameter portion of the support tube .

In addition, the clearance between the support tube and the optical connector on the distal end side when the optical connector is inserted may be smaller than other portions on the distal end side.

  According to the present invention, since the distal end of the optical connector is positioned by the support cylinder, when the endoscope connector rattles, the point at which the upper end of the optical connector comes into contact with the support cylinder serves as a fulcrum to suppress the displacement of the distal end of the optical connector. The change in the amount of illumination light can be suppressed. In addition, the tip of the optical connector does not displace even if there is some backlash, so that the necessary clearance can be secured between the endoscope connector and the connector receptacle, and the connector can be easily connected and disconnected. can do.

  Further, if the biasing means is provided inside the tip of the support cylinder, the displacement of the tip of the optical connector can be kept small. As described above, when the endoscope connector rattles, the upper end of the optical connector serves as a fulcrum, so that when the biasing means is provided, if the tip of the optical connector is biased upward, a small attachment is provided. The displacement of the tip of the optical connector can be suppressed by the force. Alternatively, if the clearance between the support tube and the optical connector is made smaller than the other parts on the distal end side, displacement of the distal end portion of the optical connector can be suppressed without sacrificing operability during insertion.

  Embodiments of a connector receiving structure for an endoscope light source processor according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, an electronic endoscope connected to an endoscope light source processor device to which the present invention is applied will be described, and then a connection relationship between the electronic endoscope and the endoscope light source processor device will be described. Then, the connector receiving structure which is the gist of the invention will be described.

  FIG. 4 is an external view of the electronic endoscope. The electronic endoscope 10 includes an insertion portion 10a that is elongated to be inserted into a body cavity, an operation portion 10b that includes an angle knob for bending the distal end portion of the insertion portion 10a, and an operation portion 10b. A cable portion 10c extending from the operation portion 10b for connecting to the endoscope light source processor device, and an endoscope connector 10d for detachably attaching the tip of the cable portion 10c to the endoscope light source processor device. I have.

  The electronic endoscope 10 includes an objective optical system and an imaging element inside the insertion portion 10a. The objective optical system forms an image of the subject facing the tip of the insertion portion 10a, and the imaging element captures the image formed by the objective optical system and converts it into image data. The endoscope connector 10d includes a signal connector 11 to which an electrical signal such as image data output from the image sensor is transmitted, and an optical connector for causing illumination light to enter the light guide led through the endoscope 10. 12 are arranged in parallel and configured integrally. The signal connector 11 includes a plurality of electrical contacts (not shown), and the optical connector 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and the light guide is passed through to the tip.

  The endoscope connector 10d is connected to a connector receiver 20a provided in the endoscope light source processor device 20 shown in FIG. The connector receiver 20a includes a signal connector receiver 21 to which the signal connector 11 of the electronic endoscope 10 is connected, and a support tube 22 into which the optical connector 12 is inserted. The signal connector receiver 21 is integrally provided with a lock lever 23. When the lock lever 23 is rotated clockwise by a predetermined angle in the state in which the endoscope connector 10d is connected to the connector receiver 20a, its inner periphery The lock groove (not shown) formed on the surface engages with the lock pin 11a protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the signal connector 11, so that the endoscope connector 10d is prevented from dropping from the endoscope light source processor device 20. Is done.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the endoscope connector 10d is connected to the connector receiver 20a. The signal connector receiver 21 and the support tube 22 are fixed to a first frame 25 fixed to the base 24 of the endoscope light source processor device 20. In the endoscope light source processor device 20, a light source 30 including a lamp and a reflector is attached to a second frame 26 fixed to the base 24. The support cylinder 22 and the light source 30 have a positional relationship such that when the optical connector 12 is inserted into the support cylinder 22, the light converges on the distal end surface of the optical connector 12.

  The support tube 22 has a length that can support the tip of the optical connector 12 when the optical connector 12 is inserted. And in order to position the front-end | tip of the optical connector 12 in said convergence position, as shown to FIG. 2 (A) which looked at the support cylinder 22 from the light source 30 side, and FIG. A small diameter portion 22a having an inner diameter smaller than the other portion is formed on the upper side of the tip of the tube 22, and a large diameter portion 22b having an inner diameter larger than the other portion is formed on the lower side of the tip. A leaf spring 27 is attached to 22b as urging means.

  As shown in FIG. 3 (A) showing the relationship with the optical connector 12 and FIG. 3 (B) showing the leaf spring 27 alone, the leaf spring 27 includes a continuous portion 27a formed along the circumference, The tongue portion 27b is divided into a plurality of portions by an axial notch, the continuous portion 27a is fixed to the large diameter portion 22b of the support tube 22, and the tip of the optical connector 12 is biased upward by the tongue piece portion 27b. And pressed against the small diameter portion 22a.

  By configuring the support cylinder 22 as described above, the distal end portion of the optical connector 12 is positioned by the support cylinder 22, so that the upper end of the optical connector 12 comes into contact with the support cylinder 12 when the endoscope connector 10 d is rattled. Point S2 becomes a fulcrum. For this reason, even when rattling occurs, the direction of the tip of the optical connector 12 changes only slightly, and the position of the tip does not change. Therefore, the amount of illumination light emitted from the light source 30 to the optical connector 12 is substantially constant regardless of the backlash, and the amount of illumination light irradiated from the endoscope tip to the body cavity via the light guide is reduced. It can be kept almost constant.

  In addition, since the clearance between the optical connector 12 and the support cylinder 22 can be sufficiently secured at a portion other than the tip of the optical connector 12, the connection and removal of the optical connector 12 from the support cylinder 22 is easy.

  In the above-described embodiment, the distal end portion of the optical connector 12 is positioned using the leaf spring 27. Instead of providing the leaf spring 27 and the large diameter portion 22b, the entire inner periphery of the distal end of the support tube 22 is provided. A small-diameter portion 22a may be provided, and the clearance between the support tube 22 and the optical connector 12 may be smaller than other portions on the tip side. By adjusting the clearance in this way, it is possible to suppress the displacement of the tip of the optical connector without sacrificing the operability during insertion.

It is sectional drawing which shows the connector receptacle structure of the light source processor apparatus for endoscopes concerning embodiment of this invention. (A) is the front view which looked at the support cylinder of FIG. 1 from the light source side, (B) is side sectional drawing which shows the engagement state of the support etc. of FIG. 1, and an optical adapter. (A) is a perspective view which shows the relationship between the optical adapter of FIG. 1, and a leaf | plate spring, (B) is a perspective view which shows the leaf | plate spring of FIG. It is a top view of the endoscope used in combination with the light source processor device for endoscopes concerning embodiment of this invention. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of an endoscope light source processor device and an endoscope connector according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the connector receiving structure of the conventional light source processor apparatus for endoscopes.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Electronic endoscope 10a Insertion part 10b Operation part 10c Cable part 10d Connector part 11 Signal connector 12 Optical connector 20 Endoscope light source processor 21 Signal connector receptacle 22 Support cylinder 22a Small diameter part 22b Large diameter part 27 Leaf spring 30 Light source

Claims (2)

A signal connector connected to an electronic device in the endoscope;
Connector receiver for a light source processor device for an endoscope connected to an integrated endoscope connector in which an optical connector for making illumination light incident on a light guide led through the endoscope is arranged in parallel In structure
A support cylinder into which the optical connector is inserted;
The support cylinder has a length capable of supporting the tip of the optical connector when the optical connector is inserted;
The tip of the optical connector is positioned at a position where an illumination light emitted from a light source unit provided in the endoscope light source processor is taken in, and the tip of the optical connector is located on the one side inside the tip of the support tube. The urging means is composed of a continuous portion formed along the circumference of the optical connector and a tongue piece portion divided into a plurality of portions by axial notches. The endoscope is characterized in that the continuous portion is fixed to the large-diameter portion of the support cylinder, and the tip of the optical connector is urged to one side by the tongue piece portion and pressed against the small-diameter portion of the support cylinder. Connector receiving structure for a light source processor device. 2. The endoscope for an endoscope according to claim 1 , wherein a clearance between the support tube and the optical connector on a distal end side when the optical connector is inserted is set to be smaller than a clearance of another portion . Connector receiving structure of light source processor device.